Alabama completes epic comeback to beat Oklahoma 34-24 in College Football Playoffs

Alabama's Zabien Brown stiff-arms Oklahoma QB John Mateer
Alabama's Zabien Brown stiff-arms Oklahoma QB John MateerBrian Bahr/Getty Images

After going down 17-0 in the second quarter, Alabama scored 27 straight points as they eventually took down Oklahoma 34-24 on Friday in the College Football Playoffs.

Bama became the first team in College Football Playoff history during the on-campus era to win a game on the road.

They now move on to the next round, where No. 1 seed Indiana awaits them. Click here for the full bracket.

Full game + highlights

Insane first half 

The first quarter of the game was all Oklahoma, and it flowed over into the second. 

After holding Bama to just 12 total yards (12 passing, 0 rushing) in the first quarter, also forcing two straight three-and-outs, the Soiners got on the board first with a touchdown run from quarterback John Mateer.

Mateer would finish the night with 322 total yards (15 rushing) with three total touchdowns (one rushing) and an interception. 

Oklahoma would get the ball back and put up more points on the board with a 51-yard field goal from the recently named Lou Groza Award-winner Tate Sandell to make it 10-0.

In like fashion, after Bama got the ball backed, Oklahoma forced the Crimson Tide's third punt of the night to get the ball back at the start of the second quarter

They would cap off another possession with their third-straight score, thanks to a seven-yard touchdown pass from Mateer to Isaiah Sategna III to cap off a 63-yard drive. 

Satenga finished the game with 17 yards on two receptions, one being the touchdown. 

After nothing but punts all night, Bama finally got on the board a player after converting a fourth and short in the red zone. 

Bama QB Ty Simpson completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Lotzeir Brooks to cut the lead to 17-7 after a 75-yard drive - the longest of the first half. 

Simpson finished the game with 232 passing yards and two touchdowns, while Brooks put up 79 yards and two touchdowns on five receptions.

As the momentum shifted following a blocked punt, Alabama drove down the field once more to put up a short field goal to cut the lead to 17-10.

During Oklahoma's next drive, Alabama completed a 17-point flip to tie it all up before the end of the first half. 

Defensive back Zabien Brown picked off Mateer for a 50-yard touchdown as both teams had completely switched how they'd played in the first quarter. 

Oklahoma outgained Bama in the first half, 236-100, and put up 12 first downs to Bama's four. 

Second half

After both teams started the second half with a punt each, Bama kept it rolling with another touchdown as they scored 24 unanswered points to take a 24-17 lead with 11:21 left in the third quarter. 

Simpson tossed a 30-yard touchdown back to Brooks again for not only the second of the game, but the second of his entire season as the Crimson Tide wide receiver had a career day. 

The Crimson Tide extended that unanswered point streak to 27 after a 40-yard field goal from Conor Talty to put them up 27-17. 

But Oklahoma wouldn't go quietly in the night as they finally got on the board at the very start of the fourth quarter. 

Deion Burks would continue his amazing night with a 37-yard touchdown pass from Mateer to cut the lead 27-24. 

He finished the game with 107 yards on seven receptions.

After both teams exchanged punts following the Sooners' touchdowns to start the fourth, Bama made sure to capitalise with great fielding position. 

The Crimson Tide ended up getting the ball on the Oklahoma 35-yard line thanks to a short punt, and punched it in the endzone just four plays later. 

Running back Daniel Hill scored for Bama to put them up 34-24 with 7:24 left in the game. 

He finished the night with 43 yards on nine carries.

To make the game even more shocking, Sandell missed a critical 36-yard field goal for Oklahoma with 2:53 left to go that would've cut the lead to seven. 

Sandell had not missed all year since his very first attempt of the season. With one more chance from over 50 yards, Sandell came up short to give Bama the win in the end.

Final team stats

The game would finish with nine combined sacks (BAMA - 5, OU - 4) and nine penalties (BAMA - 4, OU - 5). 

Oklahoma finished with 362 total yards and 18 first downs, compared to Bama's 264 yards and 12 first downs. 

The one turnover, the pick six, ended up being the difference maker in the end. 

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